- A varied geography: France has mountainous regions like the Alps and Pyrenees, the glamorous coastal areas of southern France (typified by Nice and St Tropez), the metropolitan sophistication of Paris and the gentle tranquillity of Provence.

- Art and architecture: art treasures of the Louvre (among them the mysterious smile of the "Mona Lisa"), the great works of Monet/Cezanne/Matisse/Renoir and many others, the Eiffel Tower, Gothic cathedrals like Notre Dame and Chartres, proud Renaissance chateaux in the Loire Valley, the palace at Versailles and modern classics like the Georges Pompidou centre opened in 1977.

- Wine and champagne: be it Bordeaux, Burgundy, Cotes du Rhone, Languedoc-Roussillon or the Loire Valley, or the surprisingly quiet Champagne region (featuring the city of Reims).

- Food in France: French cuisine is extremely varied, with regional variations according to the produce and tastes of each region. Even so-called "peasant dishes" require much preparation, though the success of French cuisine is due more to the use of fresh locally-produced ingredients than to complicated techniques. The French spend a lot of time discussing and consuming food, hence the continuing popularity of food markets and speciality food shops.

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